Obit of the Day: From “Easy Company” to Prosecuting Assassins
Lynn “Buck” Compton lived an accomplished life even without HBO. Compton an member of UCLA’s ROTC, was a two-sport star while in college playing in the 1943 Rose Bowl (UCLA lost to Georgia, 9-0) as well as being named an all-conference catcher in 1942. He began his service in World War II in ‘43 and was assigned to Easy Company, 2nd Regiment, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division. After the war, where he earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, Compton returned to LA where he joined the LAPD while studying law at night.
He eventually became a city prosecutor and ended up as part of the three-lawyer team that prosecuted Sirhan Sirhan for the 1968 assassination of presidential candidate and former Attorney General Robert Kennedy. Sirhan Sirhan was found guily and sits in prison to this day. Two years later Compton was named a judge in the 2nd district court of appeal by Governor Ronald Reagan. Compton served on the bench for two decades and retired in 1990.
Eleven years later, he became famous. When HBO produced a mini-series based on Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers, the men of Easy Company were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Compton, who was played in the series by Neal McDonough, was ambivalent about the attention: “All I can say is it’s flattering — and kind of embarrassing.”
First Lieutenant Lynn “Buck” Compton died at the age of 90.
(The photo shows the Seine Base Clowns, a team composed of men recuperating at the military base in France. Compton, first row in catcher’s gear, walked up to the team’s manager and said “I’d like to join your team.” Courtesy of www.baseballinwartime.com)
In 2011 the commander of Easy Company, Dick Winters, passed away. Read his OOTD post here.
